My stomach tightened. Either Tom was lost somewhere out in the countryside, or he’d simply disappeared. But where? I looked at Sully and answered with a nod.

“What’s going on, J? Where are they? Why are people dead?”

“I don’t know Sully, I honestly don’t.”

We knelt there, eyes fixed on each other. I reached out and patted his shoulder, the only thing I could think of doing.

“So, your mum and dad are they. You know.”

Again, I nodded.

“Jeez, I’m sorry, J,” he said. I stared into his wet puffy eyes, not knowing how to reply. He looked away as if saving me further pain, and then took his phone from his pocket. “I’ll give John a ring, see if he’s okay.”

For some reason I knew John, his step-dad, wouldn’t be answering. Then I remembered. “No point doing that, there’s no signal. I tried earlier.”

But he still checked anyway. “Shit. What shall we do now.” He held the phone limply in his hand and I sensed his fear building again.

“I know one thing, I’m not going back home.” I scrambled to my feet and shone the torch along the lane.